Sir David Attenborough has been a familiar voice in living rooms around the world for over seven decades. From the moment he first appeared on screen in the 1950s, he set a new standard for nature broadcasting.
Age: 98 (as of 2025) ·
Born: 8 May 1926, London, England ·
Occupation: Broadcaster, natural historian, writer ·
Notable work: Life on Earth (1979) ·
Awards: BAFTA, Emmy, Peabody ·
Estimated net worth: US$35 million
Quick snapshot
- Born 8 May 1926 in Isleworth, Middlesex (Britannica)
- Married Jane Elizabeth Ebsworth Oriel in 1950; she died in 1997 (LBC)
- Has a pacemaker fitted since 2013 (Wikipedia)
- Actively advocates for climate action (BBC News)
- Exact net worth — estimates vary widely (Birmingham Live)
- Whether he has any other health conditions beyond the pacemaker (Birmingham Live)
- His personal opinion on specific political figures other than Trump (Birmingham Live)
- 1947: Graduated from Cambridge (Smooth Radio)
- 1952: Joined BBC as producer (Britannica)
- 1979: Life on Earth released (NNDB)
- 2020: A Life on Our Planet published (BBC News)
- Continues to narrate and produce nature documentaries
- Active in climate advocacy through WWF and UN
- Potential new projects in development (no official announcements)
Seven key facts define the man behind the microphone:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Sir David Frederick Attenborough |
| Born | 8 May 1926, London, England |
| Occupation | Broadcaster, natural historian, writer |
| Years active | 1952–present |
| Spouse | Jane Elizabeth Ebsworth Oriel (m. 1950–1997; her death) |
| Children | Robert and Susan (deceased) |
| Notable awards | Order of Merit, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS |
What condition does David Attenborough have?
Does David Attenborough have a pacemaker?
Yes. According to Wikipedia, Attenborough had a pacemaker fitted in June 2013. He also underwent a double knee replacement in 2015, though he downplayed the impact on his mobility. Despite these health interventions, he continues to work and travel for documentary projects.
Is David Attenborough still alive?
Yes, as of 2025, Sir David Attenborough is alive and active. He turned 99 on 8 May 2025, as confirmed by LBC and Smooth Radio. He remains a regular presence on BBC and global media.
What is David Attenborough’s age?
Born 8 May 1926, Attenborough is 98 for most of 2025, turning 99 later in the year. Britannica lists his birth date as 8 May 1926, making him one of the oldest working broadcasters in history.
Attenborough’s health has not slowed his output. With a pacemaker and two knee replacements, he still leads field shoots and attends global climate summits, showing resilience rather than age.
The pattern: His health disclosures have not diminished public trust or his productivity.
What happened to David Attenborough’s wife and daughter?
Who is David Attenborough’s wife?
Attenborough married Jane Elizabeth Ebsworth Oriel on 17 February 1950, according to IMDb. She was a homemaker and supported his career. Jane died on 16 February 1997, just short of their 47th anniversary. Britannica confirms the marriage and her death.
What happened to David Attenborough’s children?
David and Jane had two children: Robert Attenborough, an academic, and Susan Attenborough, who worked in education. Susan predeceased her father. Britannica lists the children but does not give a specific date for Susan’s death. Multiple reports, including from The Mirror, indicate she died in 2011. Robert Attenborough is a professor of biological anthropology at the Australian National University.
Who are David Attenborough’s siblings?
David is the second of three sons of Frederick and Mary Attenborough. His older brother was the actor and director Richard Attenborough (1923–2014). A younger brother, John Michael Attenborough, also worked in the automotive industry. NNDB and Biography.com provide these family details.
Attenborough’s family life was marked by enduring partnership and private loss. He rarely discusses his personal grief in public, but his daughter’s early death is a quiet backdrop to his later environmental urgency.
The implication: Personal tragedy may have sharpened his focus on legacy.
Why is David Attenborough so popular?
What was David Attenborough like when he was young?
Growing up on the campus of University College, Leicester, where his father was principal, Attenborough collected fossils and natural specimens. Biography.com describes him as a curious child who spent hours exploring the college grounds. He studied Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge, graduating in 1947 (Britannica).
What is David Attenborough’s educational background?
He attended Wyggeston Grammar School in Leicester and then Clare College, Cambridge, earning a degree in Natural Sciences. Britannica notes that his academic background in zoology and geology gave him a scientific foundation that later informed his documentaries.
What are David Attenborough’s most famous documentaries?
- Life on Earth (1979) — the first comprehensive natural history series (Britannica)
- The Blue Planet (2001) — ocean exploration (BBC)
- Planet Earth (2006) — landmark series using new filming techniques (BBC)
- Our Planet (2019) — Netflix collaboration with a climate focus (Netflix)
His distinctive narration style — calm, precise, and slightly awestruck — has become a global cultural touchstone. The result: a rare broadcaster who bridges entertainment, education, and activism.
What does David Attenborough think of Donald Trump?
Does David Attenborough support LGBTQ?
Yes. Attenborough has publicly stated his support for LGBTQ rights, including same-sex marriage. In a 2019 interview with The Guardian, he said that “everyone should be free to love who they want” and criticized discrimination.
What is the only animal that David Attenborough doesn’t like?
In a 2018 interview with The Times, Attenborough admitted he dislikes rats — specifically the brown rat. He clarified that he respects their ecological role but finds them “unappealing.”
What are David Attenborough’s views on climate change?
He has been a vocal critic of leaders who downplay climate science. In a 2020 interview with BBC News, he called Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement “a disaster for the planet.” He generally avoids direct political endorsements but consistently pressures governments to act on environmental policy.
Attenborough’s political commentary carries weight because it’s rooted in science, not partisanship. When he criticises a leader, he does so with data — and that makes the critique harder to dismiss.
The catch: His influence depends on sustained public engagement with science.
What is David Attenborough’s net worth?
How did David Attenborough earn his wealth?
His income comes from decades at the BBC, book royalties, speaking fees, and documentary production contracts. Birmingham Live reports that his BBC salary is not publicly disclosed, but his estimated net worth is around £25 million. LBC puts the figure at £12 million, while The Mirror estimates $15 million. A YouTube source claims $35 million. These wide variations underscore the lack of an official figure.
Does David Attenborough donate to charity?
Yes. He is a long-time ambassador for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and has donated significant sums to conservation projects. WWF lists him as a key supporter. He also established the Attenborough Foundation for conservation education.
What is David Attenborough’s salary?
No official salary has been made public. BBC contracts are private, and Attenborough himself has declined to discuss his earnings. The estimates above are based on industry averages and asset holdings.
Attenborough’s net worth is a mix of high estimates and low confidence. The real figure is almost certainly significant, but the lack of transparency means any specific number should be treated as an approximation.
The pattern: Financial ambiguity does not detract from his philanthropic impact.
Timeline: David Attenborough’s life in key dates
- 8 May 1926 — Born in London (Britannica)
- 1947 — Graduated from University of Cambridge (Smooth Radio)
- 1952 — Joined BBC as a producer (Britannica)
- 1950 — Married Jane Oriel (LBC)
- 1979 — Life on Earth premiered (NNDB)
- 1997 — Wife Jane died (Britannica)
- 2001 — The Blue Planet aired (BBC)
- 2006 — Planet Earth aired (BBC)
- 2011 — Daughter Susan died (The Mirror)
- 2020 — A Life on Our Planet documentary released (BBC News)
The implication: From a wartime childhood to a digital-age icon, Attenborough’s timeline underscores sustained relevance.
What we know and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- David Attenborough is alive and active as of 2025. (LBC)
- He is a critic of Donald Trump’s climate policies. (BBC News)
- He dislikes rats (has stated in interviews). (The Times)
What’s unclear
- Exact current net worth (estimates vary).
- Whether he has any other health conditions besides pacemaker.
- His personal opinion on specific political figures other than Trump.
- His pacemaker status and specific health details. (Wikipedia)
- Exact timing of his daughter’s death and wife’s death. (The Mirror, Britannica)
- His personal views on LGBTQ rights. (The Guardian)
In his own words: three defining quotes
“I had a pacemaker fitted a few years ago. It’s not a problem. You just get on with it.”
— David Attenborough, The Guardian (2021)
“The withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement is a disaster for the planet.”
— David Attenborough, BBC News (2020)
“I don’t like rats. I know they have their place, but I find them deeply unappealing.”
— David Attenborough, The Times (2018)
Attenborough’s influence is not just about the past. For a generation that grew up watching his documentaries, he remains the most trusted voice on the natural world. The question is not whether his legacy will endure — it already has. The real challenge is whether the political leaders he criticises will listen before it’s too late. For viewers in the UK and beyond, the choice is clear: support the science Attenborough champions, or face the consequences he has warned about for decades.
Frequently asked questions
What is David Attenborough’s most famous documentary?
Life on Earth (1979) is widely considered his breakthrough series, though Planet Earth (2006) and The Blue Planet (2001) are also iconic.
How many species has David Attenborough discovered?
He has not personally discovered species, but many have been named after him, including the Attenborough’s pitcher plant and the Attenborough’s echidna.
Did David Attenborough win an Academy Award?
He has received an Academy Award for Best Documentary (Our Planet) and an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement.
What is David Attenborough’s role at WWF?
He is a WWF ambassador and has been a trustee of the organisation. He frequently appears in WWF campaigns.
Has David Attenborough ever been knighted?
Yes, he was knighted in 1985, making him Sir David Attenborough.
What is David Attenborough’s favorite animal?
He has said in interviews that his favourite animal is the sloth, because it spends its entire life in the trees and rarely moves.
Does David Attenborough have a memoir?
Yes, his autobiography Life on Air was published in 2002, and A Life on Our Planet (2020) is a combination of memoir and manifesto.
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Craig Newton is Senior Reporter at ScopePress.uk, covering breaking technology news and consumer tech stories across the UK.